Abstract
The decision to hire an association management company (AMC) is best approached with an understanding of the industry and a bit of patience. The AMC Institute, an association industry body tasked with accreditation and collaboration among AMCs, counts numerous AMCs in their membership serving more than 1,776 associations (“Industry Facts,” n.d.). This represents a robust and varied pool of options available to organizations seeking to hire an AMC to help with their management services. While this abundance of options encourages healthy competition, resulting in an assortment of high-quality choices, it also lends itself to confusion when seeking a single source of assistance. This paper outlines important considerations before engaging with an AMC, including a look at benefits; common services offered; alternative options; and how to move forward through the RFP process.